More than 1,000 fans welcome Spurs home

Updated 11:21 pm, Friday, June 21, 2013

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Tim Duncan waves before getting into his car after the San Antonio Spurs team members arrived at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. Head coach Gregg Popovich is at right. less

Tim Duncan waves before getting into his car after the San Antonio Spurs team members arrived at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs fan Juliabell Castillon wears her Spurs sombrero as she waits for the team to arrive at the San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

San Antonio Spurs fan Juliabell Castillon wears her Spurs sombrero as she waits for the team to arrive at the San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs drives off from the San Antonio airport in his vintage El Camino after the team's return to San Antonio from Miami on Friday, June 21, 2013.

Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs drives off from the San Antonio airport in his vintage El Camino after the team's return to San Antonio from Miami on Friday, June 21, 2013.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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A Spurs fan shows his appreciation to his team and the fans as they wait for the Spurs to arrive at the San Antonio International Airport to a large fan crowd on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

A Spurs fan shows his appreciation to his team and the fans as they wait for the Spurs to arrive at the San Antonio International Airport to a large fan crowd on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs arrive at the San Antonio International Airport to a large fan crowd on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

San Antonio Spurs arrive at the San Antonio International Airport to a large fan crowd on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs team members Gary Neal, left, Danny Green and Tim Duncan deplane after arriving at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. less

San Antonio Spurs team members Gary Neal, left, Danny Green and Tim Duncan deplane after arriving at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Bryan Ramirez, 9, sits on his father Manuel Ramirez's shoulders as they wait for the San Antonio Spurs to arrive at the San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

Bryan Ramirez, 9, sits on his father Manuel Ramirez's shoulders as they wait for the San Antonio Spurs to arrive at the San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs fans line up to see their team arrive at the San Antonio International Airport wearing their Spurs gear, even Jingle Bell the Chihuahua on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

San Antonio Spurs fans line up to see their team arrive at the San Antonio International Airport wearing their Spurs gear, even Jingle Bell the Chihuahua on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich speaks to a crowd of peopled gathered at San Antonio International Airport to greet the Spurs upon their arrival from Miami on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. "We wish we could have brought a championship home to you," he said. less

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich speaks to a crowd of peopled gathered at San Antonio International Airport to greet the Spurs upon their arrival from Miami on Friday, June 21, 2013, after ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Fans cheer and watch as the San Antonio Spurs team members arrive at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. less

Fans cheer and watch as the San Antonio Spurs team members arrive at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs is greeted by a police officer after the team's arrival at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. less

Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs is greeted by a police officer after the team's arrival at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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The Delta jet carrying the San Antonio Spurs team members arrives at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013.

The Delta jet carrying the San Antonio Spurs team members arrives at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Spurs team members Danny Green, left, Tim Duncan, Matt Bonner, Tiago Splitter at bottom of stairs and DeJuan Blair, walking on pavement, deplane after arriving at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. less

Spurs team members Danny Green, left, Tim Duncan, Matt Bonner, Tiago Splitter at bottom of stairs and DeJuan Blair, walking on pavement, deplane after arriving at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Tim Duncan, left, and Gary Neal of the San Antonio Spurs speak after arriving at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. Teammate Boris Diaw is in background. less

Tim Duncan, left, and Gary Neal of the San Antonio Spurs speak after arriving at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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DeJuan Blair of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to a picture of the welcoming crowd that he shot after the team arrived at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. less

DeJuan Blair of the San Antonio Spurs reacts to a picture of the welcoming crowd that he shot after the team arrived at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs shoots pictures of the welcoming crowd upon arrival at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the Championship Series. They lost to the Miami Heat. less

Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs shoots pictures of the welcoming crowd upon arrival at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013, after representing the NBA's Western Conference in the ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs to a crowd gathered to greet the team at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013.

Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs to a crowd gathered to greet the team at San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June 21, 2013.

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan, center,Spurs Home 1 BRO walks towards a cheering fan crowd after the team arrived at the San Antonio International Airport following their loss to the Heat in the finals, on Friday, June, 21, 2013. less

San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan, center,Spurs Home 1 BRO walks towards a cheering fan crowd after the team arrived at the San Antonio International Airport following their loss to the Heat in the finals, on ... more

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs Tiago Splitter walks away from the plane as Gary Neal, left to right on the stairs, Danny Green and Tim Duncan arrive at the San Antonio International Airport to a large fan crowd on Friday, June, 21, 2013. less

San Antonio Spurs Tiago Splitter walks away from the plane as Gary Neal, left to right on the stairs, Danny Green and Tim Duncan arrive at the San Antonio International Airport to a large fan crowd on Friday, ... more

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker, right, and Manu Ginobili, left, walk towards an appreciative fan crowd as the arrive at the San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker, right, and Manu Ginobili, left, walk towards an appreciative fan crowd as the arrive at the San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs fans line up against a fence to get a look at their team and show their appreciation as the Spurs arrive at the San Antonio International Airport to a large fan crowd on Friday, June, 21, 2013. less

San Antonio Spurs fans line up against a fence to get a look at their team and show their appreciation as the Spurs arrive at the San Antonio International Airport to a large fan crowd on Friday, June, 21, ... more

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio Spurs fans walk back to their vehicles after welcoming home their beloved Spurs as they arrive at the San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

San Antonio Spurs fans walk back to their vehicles after welcoming home their beloved Spurs as they arrive at the San Antonio International Airport on Friday, June, 21, 2013.

San Antonio Spurs fans stand outside the gates to the airport as they wait for the team to return home after losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, Friday, June 21, 2013, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less

San Antonio Spurs fans stand outside the gates to the airport as they wait for the team to return home after losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, Friday, June 21, 2013, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric ... more

Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

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Jingle Bell wears a tiny Spurs jersey as she waits with San Antonio Spurs fans outside the gates to the airport as they wait for the team to return home after losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, Friday, June 21, 2013, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less

Jingle Bell wears a tiny Spurs jersey as she waits with San Antonio Spurs fans outside the gates to the airport as they wait for the team to return home after losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, ... more

Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

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San Antonio Spurs fans stand outside the gates to the airport as they wait for the team to return home after losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, Friday, June 21, 2013, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less

San Antonio Spurs fans stand outside the gates to the airport as they wait for the team to return home after losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, Friday, June 21, 2013, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric ... more

Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

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San Antonio Spurs fans stand outside the gates to the airport as they wait for the team to return home after losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, Friday, June 21, 2013, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less

San Antonio Spurs fans stand outside the gates to the airport as they wait for the team to return home after losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, Friday, June 21, 2013, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric ... more

Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

More than 1,000 fans welcome Spurs home

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If you didn't know that the Spurs lost Game 7 of the NBA Finals, you wouldn't have guessed it by the scene Friday at International Airport.

About 150 fans lined up at the gate outside Landmark Aviation at noon. The crowd swelled to more than 1,000 by the time the team's plane touched down at 1:30 p.m.

“I've never seen a crowd like this,” said Janet Shires, owner of the Pilot Shoppe across the street from where people had started lining up. “And they lost!”

The Spurs fell in Game 7 of the series with a 95-88 loss to the Miami Heat. Fans nonetheless were excited to see the four-time champions return.

Shires, who has owned the Pilot Shoppe for 28 years, said she's used to people standing outside the airport gates to catch a glimpse of their favorite players, but the crowd Friday was unprecedented.

“There's usually about 10 people who are always here for the Spurs, but this ... ” she said, pausing as she scanned the masses, “is amazing.”